Now I know what the 1911 fuss is about

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wbwanzer

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I've been starting to think about getting a 1911 for my next gun. I've bought too many pistols already this year so it may not happen until later on. But it won't hurt to start looking now. You can never put too much time into research.
Anyway, I've been researching online of course and today I stopped in at my local GS and happened to look at a Taurus PT1911. I know they get mixed reviews but I just wanted to hold a 1911 and check it out. Well I dry fired it twice and now I see the difference between a 1911 and a regular semi-auto. Even being a Taurus, the trigger was almost as crisp as a good revolver in SA. Way better than any semi in SA that I have shot. So now I'm really getting hooked on the idea of a 1911 as the next pistol.

My other semis are 9mm and I looked at the price of 45ACP ammo for the heck of it and decided to stay with 9mm. I'm retired at the moment and am trying to shoot once a week if possible, so I think 9mm is the way to go.

So I'm looking at relatively inexpensive 1911s, say in the $500 to $850 range. I'm also looking at full size pistols ( 5 inch barrel). I'm seeing Taurus of course but don't know if they make a 9mm. It looks like RIA, Para and STI also make 9mm. Don't think I could get an STI in my price range unless used, but I'm not opposed to used. I would love a Dan Wesson in 9mm but I think they are hard to come by and out of my $ range.

My question is, is there anything else I should be looking at in that price range that would be 9mm and have a fairly good reputation? Fiber optic front sights are a plus, but it sounds like 1911s are modified quite often, so that could be an add on.

Anything else I should look at and any thoughts about those I have mentioned? Anyone know Para's reputation?

Thanks
 
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I just edited my original post to include full size guns ( 5 inch barrel) as opposed to compacts.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
 
I don't think Taurus has a 9MM 1911, yet. There are not a lot of 9MM 1911's but they can be found. Kimber, Springfield, STI, and ParaUSA immediately come to mind and S&W has just begun offering a high end 9MM.

I don't think you will find any new 1911's at your bottom price of $500 as most of the 9MM's typically are in the more costly pistols since most companies make their baseline pistols in .45 ACP. I find the $800 - $1,000 range the "sweet spot" for most production 1911's, give or take a hundred or two.
 
For about $850 you can get a Springfield Loaded 9mm
you can get them with either target or combat sights.

here's mine. paid ~$799+tax

DSC_7424.jpg

now with a few things done.
DSC_7991.jpg

The EMP is one of my carry guns, but a bit out of your price range @ $1049
DSC_91032.jpg

STI's are good too. the Trojan 9mm will be about $999. i don't have one, but i have an STI Edge in 9mm

DSC_8058.jpg
 
Taurus actually has a 1911 in 9mm listed for debut this year.

I called my FFL about one, there are none to be found at this point. He deals in a lot of Taurus products.

I have seen them listed on the web for $450 ish to $550 ish. But not in stock. I figure if it isn't out there now, it should be soon.
 
Quack, those are some fine looking pistols. Nice job with the photography too.
 
thanks. 9mm 1911's are a blast to shoot. all my shooting friends love shooting them. my favorite of the 3 has to be the STI. it's a well built gun & is very smooth.
 
Yeah, I've seen nothing but good stuff about the STI pistols. They probably cost a little more than I wanted to pay, but maybe it could happen.

I'm going to a gun show this weekend so I'll be paying attention to the 1911s. I had never given them a thought until recently. I'm still not in a position to buy right now unless I want a divorce.

I just got to thinking, that if all 1911s have triggers as good or better than the Taurus that I played with, then once I get a 1911 the other non-1911 semi-autos that I own won't be as desireable any more. I had always wished my semi-autos could have triggers like my S&W revolvers. Well now I've discovered that they almost can.
 
I would either look for a used STI Trojan or save a bit longer and get a new one.
 
i have a para gi expert, and you will not find more features on a 1911 for $550!!!

-polished feed ramp
-polished extractor
-hand lapped slide to frame fit
-precision crowned barrel

never jams and does one hole at 20 yards

or you can pay the same price for a springer with none of those features
 
S&W has a 1911 in 9mm that just came out this year. But me being from The People's Republic of Massachusetts, the gun isn't on out AG list yet :cuss:
I have the S&W Gunsite 1911 .45 and love it and want one in 9mm, hopefully S&W will make this Ma. compliant soon :banghead::banghead:
 
S&WMP45 - I'm open to Para, and they make a full size in 9mm, but when I search the forums about Paras, I get mixed results. Some people have real problems with them. I've got more researching to do, but at this point I'd be a little hesitant to go with Para.
 
i hear ya, i was hesitant to buy a para too, before i saw this model.

however, it doesn't have that power extractor that seems to break, nor the ramped barrel, and the slide to frame fit is a lot tighter than any other para i've seen.

and don't think i would buy any other para than this one,for the same reason, hear a lot of probs.

but they got this one right for some reason lol
 
S&WMP45 - Does this GI Expert go by some other name? I'm looking at Para's site and I don't see a model by that name. Does this GI Expert come in 9mm?
 
Never mind. Duh! The GI Expert is there on the site, I just missed it. It only comes in 45 though. But it does sound interesting.
 
yeah check out the 3 gun magazine review links they have there too, it is really that accurate and reliable!
 
RIA "Tactical" is the best bang for the buck in a 1911. Don't buy anything until you taken a look at these, then if you want to spend more, fine.

--wally.
 
ria? those are made in the Philippines. they are cheap and i've heard good reviews and bad, but do you really want a $350 1911 made in a 3rd world country??
 
Quack, those are some fine looking pistols. Nice job with the photography too
Click to expand...

wb, I agree with your assessment.
Just curious quack, but just how did you manage to get such sharp pics? I have posted only one set of pics and try as I did could not get proper focus or lighting. Do you use a tripod? Do you use macro?
I have a Canon sd1000 and I'm sure it can do what you did, but gotta figure out how first.
thanks
 
Five-0

I realize that I'm helping to hijack my own thread, but here's a picture taken with my four or five year old Canon PowerShot A95 (read point and shoot). I took it outside but not in direct sunlight, turned the flash off, turned macro on and held her steady. Not bad:

Sig229Apr2009005.jpg
 
i use a D300 ad the lens was either a 30mm/1.4 or a 17-55mm 2.8. they were all handheld pics on my kitchen table.
 
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